Richmond and Westminster to continue comms link

The trouble-shooters will continue to guide the council’s comms activities following the extension of Westminster’s preliminary one-year contract, signed in May last year. Westminster’s team, headed by head of comms Alex Aiken, will take charge of the department for another two years for a fee of £300,000 per year.

The extended contract will see Westminster manage media, marketing, internal comms, filming, government relations and tourism activities. It will also implement the recommendations of the Best Value Review of council comms. The Richmond department will be beefed up by an additional three members of staff and will be restructured.

The department is expected to manage activities such as civic pride events and management training and will identify and develop relations with 500 of the most influential stakeholders in the district.